Poultry shackle



E. T. WAYNE POULTRY SHACKLE @ct M, 1952 Filed March 14, 1951 INVENTOR. Edward 7 Wayne;

flZZo-rr uy Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POULTRY SHACK-LE Edward T. Way'ne, Port Crane, Y., assignor to E. H. Titchener & (30., Binghamton, N. Y, a corporation of New York Application March 14, 1951, Serial No. 215,532

9 Claims.

This invention relates to shackles or suspension devices for fowls, and especially those'of the kind adapted for supporting the fowls when they are being killed, scalded, picked or otherwise treated during processing operations.

In many of the devices commonly in use for the above-mentioned purpose, resilient, springs? or movable elements are incorporated primarily for the purpose of ripping the feet 'of the few-'1 and retaining the same in recesses, notchesor holding elements in the shackle. Since shackles of this kind are in constant contact with heat and moisture, this coupled with repeated pressure imposed on the springy, resilient or movable elements, soon causes such elements to lose their tension, and the device to become either inoperative or else more or less unsatisfactory in operation.

It is an object of the resent invention to provide a shackle of rigid and non-resilient construction having no movable parts or parts capable of fiexure or distortion. As a result, a shackle constructed according to the present invention will last indefinitely; it will withstand very rough handling and the abuse to which articles of this kind are often subjected, and will effectively hold the fowls during all processing operations.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a rigid frame, preferably composed of metallic rod of non-corrosive metal, or else treated to render it corrosion-resistant, and which is bent in a manner to provide feet-sup porting loops, a suspension loop and a neck recess, all of the parts or elements of the device being fixedly and immovably connected. resulting in a substantially integral and rigid device, yet one which will firmly retain and suspend the fowl while the same is being processed.

These and other objects are attained by the invention, a more particular'description of which will appear hereinafter and be set forth in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an i1- lustrative embodiment of the invention is dis closed,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation or face view of a poultry shackle, constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on the line 4-! of Fig. '1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

t Fig. 5 is a front elevation or a modified strucure.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, I indicates generally the frame of the improved shackle. Said frame and all other parts of the devi-ce are preferably made of non -cor'rosive metal or metal treated to render it corrosion-resistant. The frame includes a pair of parallel side bars indicated respectively at 2 and 3, and an integral top bar 4. At their lower ends, the side bars 2 and '3 are bent up= wardly rather sharply 'as to form loops, as indicated at 5 and B, and then extend upwardly to form the inner longitudinal b'a'r's indicated at l and 8. The inner bars 1 and 8 continue upwardly onconvergent lines toward the upper or top'bar 4 and extend above said bar where they integral- 1y join in forming a loop 9, said loop constituting a suspenslon member for the shackle and by which it is hung from a conveyor or other support.

It will be noted that the frame I, including the inner bars 1 and 8 and the suspension loop 9, is formed from a single continuous section of metal rod, having its ends joined by welding or other suitable joinder, at the point I0, or at an other suitable location along the length of the rod. This formation or the shackle results in the production of a very strong and rigid frame structure which can be handled roughly or tossed about without damage. At the points where the legs of the loop 9 cross the top bar 4, welding H is provided to thus attach these legs to the bar, resulting further in stiffening the device at these points.

The lower or base portions of the inner bars I and 8 extend substantially parallel to the side bars 2 and 3, and the spacing between the bars 2 and 1 forms a leg-receiving recess or notch l2, while similar spacing I3, between the bar 3 and the inner bar 8 constitutes a second leg notch of recess. The loops or bends 5 and '6 at the lower end of the shackle are bent forwardly or are ofiset as clearly seen in FigsJ-Q and 3.

Extending between the inner bars I and 8,-and just above the offset loops 5 and 6, is a reinforcing cross-bar l4, which has its ends welded to the bars "I and 8, thus adding very material stiifness to these bars. A V-shaped-bar, indicated at [5,

has its apex l5 welded at the center of the crossbar It, and the ends I! and It of its divergent legs welded to the converging palm of the bars 7 and B. r V I The device as shown, therefore, consists of a rigid outer frame I having an upwardly-extended inner frame provided with leg portions 1 and 8 cooperating with the outer frame in forming notches or recesses 12 and I 3 for receiving the legs of the suspended fowl, these notches or recesses being defined at their lower ends by offset loops 5 and '6. The inner frame is thus in the form of an inverted V-shape which has its apex extending above the top of the outer frame and forming a suspension loop 9 for the shackle. The lower portion of the inner frame is reinforced by the cross bar [4, and this and the converging parts of the inner frame forms a support for the V-shaped member l5 providing a notch in which the neck of the fowl is inserted when it is desired to hold the head of the fowl as well as the legs or as an alternative for suspending the fowl by the legs.

In inserting the fowl in the shackle, the legs are thrust down in the recesses I2 and 13 to be positioned in the lower off-set loops 5 and 6 which will firmly hold the legs against dislodgement. The neck of the fowl may be thrust through the notch defined by the V-shaped member I5 if and when desired. v

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the inner frame consists of an upwardly extending loop member 20 which terminates'b'e low the upper bar 4. In this embodiment of the invention, the suspension loop 2| is formed in the top bar 4' as clearly shown in Fig. 5 rather than by an inner frame apex. The remaining elements of the device of this embodiment, correspond to those described in connection with the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the described devices are of such construction as to render the same strong, rigid and of lasting nature. Having no resilient, pivotal or movable parts, thecooperating elements of the device re main in fixed relation and uniformly hold the fowls during processing. All parts of the device being welded or otherwise permanently connected, the device will not readily become bent or distorted out of shape or damaged by repeated use.

Having described one embodiment Of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto since various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in cases where it is found desirable to support the fowls by the legs only, it will be apparent that the V-shaped member [5 might be eliminated.

What I claim is:

1. In a poultry shackle, a section of metallic rod defining a three-sided frame, said frame having side bars, said bars having upward bends at one end to form a pair of leg-receiving loops located at one end of the frame, said upwardlybent portions of the side bars presenting parts positioned within the frame, bracing elements extending between the said parts, one of said bracing elements being a rigid V-shaped member for the reception of the neck of a fowl.

2. In a poultry shackle, a section of metallic rod defining a three-sided frame provided at one end with a pair of ofi-set leg-receiving loops, said frame including an inverted V-shaped portion extending upwardly from the off-set loops, said V- shaped portion having a loop located above the top of the frame and constituting a suspension loop for the shackle, a cross bar extending across the inverted V-shaped portion, and a bracing ele- 'ment extending between said cross-bar and parts 4 of the V-shaped portion and constituting a neckreceiving notch.

3. In a poultry shackle as provided for in claim 2, wherein the frame and the inverted V-shaped portion extending therefrom are composed of a single length of metallic rod, and the cross-bar and the bracing member are secured in place so that all portions of the shackle. are rigidly connected together. y

4. A poultry shackle comprising, a frame having a top bar, a pair of side bars extending downwardly therefrom, said side bars being substantially parallel to one another, said side bars having upward bends at one end to form a pair of leg-receiving loops, the upwardly-directed portions of the bars meeting in a loop located above the top bar, a V-shaped brace member extending between the upwardly-directed parts and forming a neck-receiving notch, and a cross bar extending between the upwardly-directed parts, the V-shaped brace member having an apex secured to the cross-bar.

5. A poultry shackle comprising, a frame having a top bar, a pair of side bars extending downwardly therefrom, said side bars being substantially parallel to one another, the side bars being upwardly-directed at their lower ends to form a pair of leg-receiving loops, said loops being directed angularly and being thus off-set to the frame, the upwardly-directed portions of the side bars meeting in a loop, a V-shaped brace member connecting the sides of the latter loop and forming a neck-receiving notch for a fowl, and a cross-bar extending across said loop and to which a part of the V-shaped brace member is attached.

6. A poultry shackle comprising, a frame in the form of a continuous loop, said frame having a pair of outer side legs and a pair of inner legs, the inner legs being respectively connected to the outer legs by off-set leg-receiving loops, the inner legs being connected together at the top by a bend, and a cross-brace extending between the inner legs. l

'7. A poultry shackle comprising, a frame in theform of a continuous loop, said frame having a pair of outer side legs and a pair of inner legs, the inner legs being respectively connected to the outer legs by leg-receiving loops, the inner legs being connected together at the top by a bend, a cross-brace extending between the inner legs near the loops, and a V-shaped brace member extending between the inner legs and the cross-brace.

8. A poultry shackle comprising, a rigid frame in the form of a continuous loop, said frame having a top bar and a pair of outer side legs and a pair ofinner legs extending substantially parallel for a portion of their length to the side legs, the inner legs being respectively connected to the outer side legs by loops, the inner legs being joined together at the top by a bend located above the top bar and constituting a suspension loop for the shackle, a brace member extending between the inner legs adjacent to the loops and a V-shaped brace extending between said inner legs and the brace member, all of the abovementioned elements of the shackle being maintained in rigid relationship.

9. A poultry shackle comprising, a frame in the form of a rigid continuous loop, said frame having a pair of outer side legs and a pair of inner legs, the inner legs being respectively connected to the outer legs by leg-receiving loops, the inner legs being connected together at one end by a 6 loop and connected together adjacent to the Number Name Date leg-receiving loops by a. cross-brace. 1,717,133 Welsh June 11, 1929 EDWARD T. WAYNE. 1,720,393 Ferguson July 9, 1929 1,891,906 Benn Dec. 27, 1932 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,035,948 De Vout Mar. 31, 1936 The following references are of record in the 2,047,544 Bruce July 14, 1936 file of this patent: 2,389,404 Barker NOV. 20, 194:5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,422,608 Albrlght June 17, 1947 Number Name Date 10 OTHER REFERENCES 57 ,384 Demorest Oct. 27, 1896 Kent publication, November 15, 1950, Kent 846,674 Lamb Mar. 12, 1907 Equipment 00., 110 N. Franklin Street, Chicago 938,765 Henig Nov. 2, 1909 6, Illinois." 1,155,004: Pierce Sept. 28, 1915 

